American men's tennis is guaranteed its first US Open finalist since the field lost its two biggest obstacles: world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament with a knee injury, and Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the first round. Ben Shelton then beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final, setting up a semi-final against fellow American Frances Tiafoe on Friday and ensuring an American man will contest Sunday's final for the first time in years. With Andy Roddick still the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, back in 2003, the piece argues this is the best chance yet to finally end that 20-plus-year drought.

Shelton, who had never beaten Alcaraz in 13 previous meetings by American men against him in majors, came from a set down to win a match that finished at 3:33am. Tiafoe overturned a two-set deficit against fellow American Alex Michelsen to reach the last four via a fifth-set tiebreak. With Alexander Zverev, who won his first major at this year's French Open, seen as the strongest remaining threat but not at the level of Sinner or Alcaraz, the article contends the American pair now face their clearest route yet to a first men's Grand Slam title since Roddick's win 23 years ago.